On Black Friday, three demonstrations against Hewlett-Packard occurred in front of large stores in Greater Los Angeles.

Besides its involvement with Israel, HP is involved in government surveillance of citizens around the world, including in the U.S. About a dozen people turned out for each of the two-hour demonstrations.

On Sunday July 20th, in response to the latest incursion by Israeli forces into the Gaza Strip, protests erupted world wide on every continent and in many countries out of outrage for the current West Bank Israeli incursion.

There was a spirited Sunday protest at the Federal Building on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles of about 3000 people that was fervent and mildly disruptive to traffic. This was the second protest in two weeks with the first rally resulting in some clashes between Israeli and Palestinian activists ending in four arrests and one homeland security officer discharging a firearm into the air.

The crowd was overwhelmingly family centered with many children, parents, grandparents and extended relatives all marching together down Wilshire Boulevard to the Israeli Consulate. There were Jewish protesters carrying signs against the Israeli action and surprisingly no counter pro Israel protests.

People protested who had been directly affected by the invasion such as Abir El Zawidi who lost five family members.

March 14, 2014: On Friday afternoons, the corner of Sunset and Echo Park is usually the site of the weekly Echo Park peace vigil (now in its 12th year). This week, however, special emphasis was placed on U.S. meddling in Venezuela and Ukraine. This author counted 25 people (though I left early). Flyers were handed out to the fairly heavy foot traffic. As has been the pattern lately at community demonstrations, a police car was present. (A demonstration against U.S.-backed instability in Venezuela has also been held in San Francisco.)

"Nobody should be fooled here, especially left forces," said John Parker of the International Action Center. "History shows you what the U.S. is about--they're not about democracy, they're about profits by any means."

On Monday evening, MoveOn called for vigils around the country against the threatened U.S. bombing of Syria. In Silver "Lake," the turnout was large--67 people were counted an hour into it (and by that time several had left). (Other local vigils listed here.) People of all ages participated. Unlike the demonstrations against invading Iraq in '02-'03, public response was overwhelmingly positive. The honking was almost non-stop at the busy intersection of Glendale and Silver Lake Boulevards and could be heard from blocks away. Also, there was media coverage by NBC and NPR. All four corners of the intersection were occupied.

The crowd was passionate. One participant made a trip to the west side to fetch a banner for this event. Due to the large turnout, the one-hour vigil (originally scheduled from 6-7) was extended by an additional half hour.

Additional actions were planned for the following day, September 10, in and in front of the office of Congressman Adam Schiff in Hollywood.

On the third Wednesday of each month, a vigil is held outside Congressman Adam Schiff's Pasadena office. Due to redistricting, Schiff, who currently represents areas including Pasadena, South Pasadena, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Temple City, Monterey Park, Burbank, and parts of Glendale, will soon "represent" La Canada Flintridge, Glendale, Burbank, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Hollywood, and West Hollywood. This vigil will continue up to and after the redistricting goes into effect in January 2013, organizers say.

In 2002, Schiff voted to give President Bush powers to invade Iraq--despite very large protests held outside his office beforehand.

Nine people turned out for the June 2012 vigil. Other issues addressed included universal healthcare, support for Representative Pete Stark's Save Our Climate Act, and job creation. Recently, Schiff has talked of an orderly U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan but has not followed through with any concrete actions. However, some of his current constituents are thankful for his recently introducing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

A series of demonstrations drew attention to one of the biggest (and least-discussed) government welfare programs: the Military Industrial Complex. Although Boeing was the main target, demonstrations also occurred in front of Northrop Grumman and Raytheon. By late afternoon, there were about 50 participants. That number increased to approximately 75 by early evening. Most response from vehicular traffic seemed positive.

Emphasis was placed on the staggering amounts of public money spent on weapons (over 50% of government spending) while people here and abroad suffer from hunger, disease, and illiteracy. And despite the huge Military budget, various demonstrators observed that they do not feel any safer. Various participants also spoke out against the current U.S. military build-up in the Pacific--against America's greatest trading partner, China. There was considerable emphasis, too, on flying drones. "We are in secret wars in Yemen [and] Pakistan," read a widely-distributed leaflet. "There will soon be thousands of weaponized predator drones in the United States airspace."

June 16, 2011: Seven thirty in the morning at the Alhambra Court House in southern California saw a strong showing of anti-FBI repression activists protesting the recent charges filed against veteran community activist and Brown Beret founder Carlos Montes. This demonstration was one of many being held across the country for Mr. Montes in the wake of new expansive FBI rules and an apparent new surge of repression against American anti-war and internationalist activism. There have been raids on citizens in Minneapolis, Chicago, Michigan and North Carolina as well as Los Angeles.

Mister Montes's home was raided by Los Angeles county Sheriffs and the FBI on May 17th of this year. The charges revolve around a firearms charge, however all of Mr. Monte's political and historical documents, computers and cell phones were confiscated making the original charge appear as a mere pretext for political harassment.

Hollywood saw in the eighth anniversary of the official start of the Iraq war with a demonstration numbering in the mid-thousands against the the American invasion. The action was organized by the ANSWER Coalition of Los Angeles and joined by groups as diverse as 911 truth advocates, CODEPINK, Iraq and Afghanistan Vets Against the War, Ron Kovich, Military Families Speak Out, Gold Star Families for Peace, California Wellness Centers, Los Angeles Jews for Peace and a wide swath of Los Angeles Social Justice groups.

LOS ANGELES, March 20, 2010 - Hollywood Boulevard was the scene of an anti war protest marking the seventh year of the war in Iraq. It was well attended with thousands of people in the street.
Groups such as Iraq Veterans Against the War, Anarcha LA, AnswerLA, Code Pink, KPFK, Goldstar Families, Military Families Speak Out, the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union and others were there making their case for the quick cessation of America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Speeches given at the end of the march focused on the immorality, imperialistic motivations, illegality, the cost to each American taxpayer and the profiteering aspects of these adventures. Speakers such as Ron Kovic, Margaret Prescod and Ryan Endicott gave fiery and impassioned testimonials.

This was the sixth consecutive year (a conservative count) that the Northeast LA Radical Neighbors have held vigils on December 25. The last several vigils have been a joint collaboration with the weekly Montrose Peace Vigil.

Locations of our December 25 vigil have changed over the years. Yesterday, we had it in Eagle Rock. Six of us turned out. While many passersby were non-committal, many others gave us peace signs (and we exchanged waves with a police car). A few even thanked us for being there.

Many of ours signs addressed the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, but support for same-sex marriage was also prominent.

The weekly peace vigil in Eagle Rock, which has only missed two weeks since it started in November 2002, has never been interrupted by weather. Yet, in past years, turnout on rainy days has ranged from one to three. Yesterday our presence peaked at six. Much of the time we vigiled in a bus shelter. One of us was recovering from the flu but came out anyway. Besides the ongoing wars, signs addressed the continued militarization of our society vis-a-vis war toys, repealing Proposition 8, and universal health care. Even though fewer people noticed us due to the weather, there was ample positive response.

Obviously, vigils such as this are not stopping America's many wars, but they seem to be reminding people that horrible things are going on. (Personally, I grew up during the Vietnam War totally unaware of that abomination. Had there been community vigils such as this, my world view would have been different.)
We got a lot of positive response from adults and children. One city employee read all of our signs aloud over a p.a. system on their vehicle.

As we have done in the past, we brought food for the local homeless people. It was alarming to see how much the local homeless population had increased. . . .

On March 21, 2009, a peace march was held in Hollywood. The goal was to bring about the end of war on a global scale. It was a call for solidarity amongst all members of the left. I had seen the posters for months. By D-Day, I could almost hear the footsteps of the march that was going to stop the war in my head. There was no way I was going to miss this.

I spent the first twenty-four years of my life in my mother's basement in Philadelphia, spinning old records, decorating my room with upside-down American flags, and reading the Communist Manifesto. Most of my youth, I dreamed of attending a massive peace rally. At last I would be given my chance to run through the streets with blood on my face. I was ready to stop the war.

When I got to Hollywood and Vine, I found the rally all right.... Full Report & Photos by Nick Anastasi

Six years after our troops went into Iraq, the occupation continues, and Americans and Iraqis are still dying in a war based on lies. We have been fighting to stop this war since before it started, and we will continue that fight until all our troops are home from Iraq. . . . Military Families Speak Out, Long Beach Area Peace Network, Iraq Vets Against the War, Veterans for Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against the War protest occupation in Seal Beach and Long Beach, California in symbolic funeral procession.

Marching at the largest Martin Luther King Jr Day-the 24th year commemoration last January 19, 2009 from Western to Leimert Park, hundreds of peace activist and anti-war advocates marched with thousands of people chanting: "MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION. NOT FOR WAR AND OCCUPATION!" The more than 200 protestors marched under the lead banner of the Topanga Peace Alliance and Veterans for Peace and led by the Cuahtemoc Azteca Dancers banging their drums. They marched together with more than 400 different delegations, floats and marching bands representing all shades and political color all over Southern California marched past the mains stage located at Crenshaw Blvd.

LOS ANGELES January 14, 2009 - Early this morning, Jewish activists in a historic first in Los Angeles, chained themselves to the entrance of the Israeli Consulate and blocked the driveway to the parking structure, blocking all traffic in and out of the building. "We sent a clear message to the world that LA Jews are part of the global majority in opposition to the Israeli siege of Gaza," said Lenny Potash a 72-year old protester who was cuffed to eight other activists, blocking the driveway to the consulate. The activists were joined by 50 other supporters and who chanted "LA Jews say, End the Siege of Gaza" and "Not in Our Name! We will Not be Silent!" Protesters also held up signs reading "Israeli Consulate: Closed for War Crimes." From the newswireJews Shut Down Israeli Consulate -LA By riKu Matsuda | | JEWS SHUT DOWN LOS ANGELES ISRAELI CONSULATE! by International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network | | BREAKING NEWS: Jews Shut Down Israeli Counsulate in Protest of Attack on Gaza! by Jewish People of Conscience | | Jewish activists block Israeli Consulate by Robert Stuart Lowden

LOS ANGELES, January 11, 2009 -- This weekend saw continued protests against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. A march and rally estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 people took place in Westwood Saturday. At least one person was arrested on Saturday for climbing on a stop light to hang a banner. There was some minor police violence against protesters who tried to prevent the man from being arrested as he climbed down from the pole. And on Sunday another demonstration in Westwood drew hundreds including hundreds of pro-war counter-protesters. Police formed a line between the two rival groups and kept them separated. Local protest reports from the newswire: VIDEO: Free Gaza Protest | Zionists vs Gaza supports at protest | Free Palestine | | PHOTOS: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | Timeline of call ins from Sunday's Protest New photos: Protest Against The Gaza Incursion Draws Thousands To Westwood by Robert Stuart Lowden
LET GAZA LIVE - A video and photo documentary of the march and rally by Ozzie Carmona

December 25, 2008: Despite the threat of heavy rain, five of us turned out for our annual Xmas Day vigil. We have been vigiling on Xmas, at various locations, since 2004. Last year's holiday vigil was covered here.

This was the second year that the Northeast LA Radical Neighbors collaborated with the Montrose vigil. Some of us were a bit reticent to go out in the rain on a holiday, but activism isn't always about doing what one wants or feels like.

October 31: While some of the weekly vigils went on hiatus tonight, the Glendale vigil (at Brand & Broadway) proceeded as usual--except participants were encouraged to come in costume. Also, candy was handed out for a time. When the candy ran out, pencils publicizing the Glendale vigil were distributed. Flyers were passed, too, announcing an upcoming showing of the film Afghanistan (see glendalepeacevigil.org).

For the sixth consecutive Easter, a peace demonstration was held in Highland Park at York and Figueroa. In keeping with tradition, there were signs with messages including "resurrect peace," "resurrect justice," "resurrect the planet," and "who would Jesus bomb?" Also, a potluck meal was shared with the local homeless, and there was an egg hunt.
Story and photos: Easter Day Vigil in Highland Park by R of the Northeast LA Radical Neighbors

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Saturday, March 15, 2008 -- Protests were held in Hollywood, Santa Barbara, Huntington Beach to mark the fifth year since the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. An estimated 2,000 protesters gathered at Hollywood & Vine and marched a short eight block route for rally at the CNN building on Sunset. Hundreds marched in Santa Barbara and formed a human peace sign in a local park. In Orange County a Silent Peace March of about 300 people was held in Huntington Beach.
Latest From the Newswire:

UPDATE: More demonstrations and peace vigils continued into the week across the region. Wednesday night saw a reunion of local peace vigils at street corners throughout the city. Demonstrations were also held at military recruitment centers. Latest from the Newswire:

In a major step for the U.S. labor movement, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced that it will shut down West Coast ports on May 1, to demand an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Middle East. In a February 22 letter to AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, ILWU International president Robert McEllrath reported that at a recent coast-wide union meeting, "One of the resolutions adopted by caucus delegates called on longshore workers to stop work during the day shift on May 1, 2008 to express their opposition to the war in Iraq."

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CA: On the 25th anniversary of the ICBM program at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, activists gathered to march and rally in support of nuclear disarmament in outer space. Organizer Bruce Gagnon, who was himself in the Air Force until protests outside of his base changed his mind towards peace activism, said, "America is addicted to war and militarism."

Gagnon, who is the coordinator of Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, warned that the testing and other operations at Vandenberg are "moving the arms race into space." In 1983 the first nuclear-capable Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) was tested at Vandenberg and since then the base's mission has expanded to launching and monitoring orbiting satellites, and managing space surveillance operations, in addition to its work with missiles. The protests also began in 1983.
Full story: STAR WARS PROTEST: Vandenberg Air Force Base by df | | Vandenberg AFB Protest by Mike Wisniewski

ISLA VISTA / SANTA BARBARA, Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - About 350 anti-war activists met to rally at Pardall Tunnel, where they were addressed by speakers at an open microphone, including a man from Iraq and a former Marine-turned-organizer. Emotions ran high and alternated between intense anger against the war, sadness over the loss of life, and hope, joy, and optimism for the future. At times, feelings were tense, and the police helicopter circling overhead made an ominous presence. The demonstrators shortly proceeded to converge on UCSB's Corwin Pavilion with the goal of shutting down the 2008 ICB (Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies) Army-Industry Collaboration Conference.

"Word began to spread as we researched the school and discovered what we had here was indeed a school of assassins, a school for dictators. These soldiers came here to learn counter insurgency. Who were the insurgency? They were the poor, the religious leaders, labor leaders, and many others. And then when the torture manuals were discovered in the curriculum, that got a lot of front-page coverage. Word began to spread, and our numbers in the movement grew." -- Father Roy Bourgeois, founder, School of the Americas Watch

January 1, 2008, Pasadena: At approximately 7:15am four of us began our walk along the Rose Parade route in advance of the parade. We held banners and signs calling for impeachment and urged people to text 30644 to support the impeachment of Dick Cheney.

(A block or so behind us was a contingent of people with signs protesting China's human rights atrocities and its hosting the upcoming Olympics. A float celebrating the Beijing Olympics would be in the parade. This group had an impressive presence with many people and signs visible.)

The members of our group agreed that there was significant positive response to our message as well as considerable negative reactions and blank stares. However, some of us were rather positive in our final analyses, while I tilted toward the negative. Full Report from the Newswire:ATTACK OF THE ARCHIE BUNKER CLONES! (activism at the 2008 Rose Parade) by Self-Hating Caucasian

Momentum is building for a demonstration against the war on Iraq at this year Rose Parade in Pasadena. Small locally organized protests have been held in past years at the parade, but this year organizers going by the name, The White Rose Coalition, are attempting to mobilize thousands. Details from the calendar:

December 25, 2007: The Northeast LA Radical Neighbors (NelaRad) and the Montrose vigil collaborated on a holiday vigil. Whether one recognizes Christmas, Chriskwanzica, DeadTreesmas, or whatever, we wanted to remind people that not everyone in the world can celebrate at this time of year.
Story and photos:
Xmas Day Peace Vigil in Northeast L.A. by The Northeast LA Radical Neighbors

The weekly Eagle Rock peace vigil has passed the five-year mark. It began in November of 2002 to protest the looming invasion of Iraq. The weekly turnout back then was 60 to 80--it is currently at two-to-four regulars (all "veterans"). We have never missed a Saturday regardless of weather or holidays--except once in December of '02 to observe Xmas.

The passion and momentum from this vigil resulted in much other activism in Northeast L.A., including a second weekly vigil on Sundays in nearby Highland Park (still ongoing); weekly film screenings at Flor y Canto, which occurred for two-and-a-half years (a comprehensive list of our screenings follows this article); donations to local homeless; leafleting at a local high school (now in its fifth year); and environmental endeavors including participation in Arroyo Fest 2003 and a campaign to daylight a stream that today is covered by Sycamore Grove Park. Story and photos: The Eagle Rock Vigil Enters It's Sixth Year by R of the Northeast LA Radical Neighbors

PASADENA, October 26, 2007 -- Anti-war activists were able to close an army recruitment center this Friday in Pasadena. Protesters marched from Pasadena City College to the nearby center, strung yellow caution tape across the doors and then physically blocked entry to the center. Police were called to the scene but no arrests were made. Frustrated by efforts to reopen recruiters closed the center for the remainder of the day.

The horrifying fires we have all witnessed in Southern California are a direct result of stealing our tax dollars from all social services at home and giving them to the war machine. Please turn your grief into action and join the October 27 peace march in Los Angeles at 12 Noon from Olympic & Broadway and March to downtown federal building. Full Report from the Newswire

LOS ANGELES, January 27, 2007 -- Estimates ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 people demonstrated against the continuing US war on the people of Iraq today. A protest was held today outside the Los Angeles offices of the Democratic Party. Protesters demanded that the newly elected Democratic controlled congress stop funding for the war in Iraq and begin the process of bringing all the troops home now. Protesters then marched through downtown to the Federal Building for a second rally featuring speakers Cindy Sheehan, Ron Kovic, Nativo Lopez and others. The event was peaceful, no arrests or incidents of police violence have been reported.
From the Newswire:

LOS ANGELES, September 25, 2006 -- A coalition of faith based groups succeeded in closing the army recruitment center in Hollywood today. Early Monday morning a group of about 50 marched down Hollywood Blvd. to the recruitment center and proceeded to block the entrance. They were prepared to risk arrest but it did not come to that. Police monitored the group but did not interfere. It is believed that the center knew in advance of the action and closed because of the demonstration.

About 25 people set up an all day vigil at the front doors to make sure the recruitment center did not try to reopen. One of the people who took part, Ann Bishop, said of the action "We may have saved a few lives. Somebody didn't sign up, and maybe having a day to think it over they won't sign up, and they won't go some where and be killed or kill any body". From the Newswire Peace Group Shuts down Army Recruitment Center in Hollywood | | MP3 Audio: Declaration of Peace

LOS ANGELES, August 5, 2006 - Three hundred determined protestors defied George Bush, Condoleeza Rice, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Antonio Villaraigosa to march through Westwood in support of Lebanon and Palestine. The International Action Center joined with the UCLA Muslim Student Association to call for an end to hostilities against Lebanon and in support of a Palestinian state.
Full Story: From Iraq to Palestine: Occupation Is a Crime by Leslie Radford